Inaugural Pinotage Rosé Competition Winners Crowned

The winners of the Pinotage Association’s first competition specifically for Rosé wines made using South Africa’s most successful ‘indigenous’ variety were announced during an award ceremony held at the Overture restaurant of Hidden Valley in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch. All of the country’s major wine-producing areas were represented, with producers vying for the Award of Excellence honouring the top three entries.

“This is a very exciting addition to the competitions focusing on the different expressions of Pinotage,” said De Wet Viljoen, vice-chair of the Pinotage Association. He added that: “The winning Rosé wines are refreshing and of great quality, reiterating the vision to incorporate and support various styles and market stakeholders.”

Johan Schwartz, Marketing Manager of the Pinotage Association, added that it is important to build on previous successes and to grow the brand-appeal by embracing new initiatives and wine styles to broaden the consumer base.

The judges: Jacques Roux (experienced judge and marketing director of DGB), Fred Viljoen and Johan Malan (proprietors and cellarmasters at Viljoensdrift and Simonsig respectively), Susan Erasmus (previously winemaker at Vrede en Lust and now at Laffort SA), Brad Gold (Cape Wine Master and head of marketing at Oak Valley) and Marené de Beer (winemaker at Altydgedacht).